Direct Air Capture of CO2 (DAC) will cost around c$200/ton of CO2 abated, all in, and apples-to-apples with other technologies assessed by TSE. This data-file models out the economics of the process in detail (chart above).
Our model is based upon excellent technical disclosures from Carbon Engineering, which we have aggregated. Our data-file includes a full breakdown of the capital costs and the energy associated with each component of the DAC plant, plus an explanation of the process.
Stress-testing shows total CO2 removal costs will range between $150-300/ton of CO2, flexing 18 input assumptions, such as WACCs, tax-support, cost-deflation, utilization, power prices, gas prices and water prices. (gas- and water-intensity of the process should be noted). Our conclusions on the economics of direct air capture of CO2 were also highlighted in an article sent out in 2020 to our distribution list.
Related research. Carbon Engineering is commercializing a ‘dry process’ for DAC, which informs our numbers here. Although there is also a ‘wet process’ that we have reviewed, being progressed by companies such as Climeworks. We still prefer the economics and philosophy of nature-based solutions as a form of sequestering atmospheric CO2.